Phonograph



Oct. 27, 1942.

E. c. GUEDON 2,300,150

PHONOGRAPH Filed April'19, 1941 2 sheets-sheen Patented Oct. 27, 1942 meant PHONOGRAPH Emile C. Guedon, Audubon, N. 5., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application April 19, 1941, Serial No, 389,267

13 Claims.

This invention relates to phonographs, and more particularly to the starting and stopping mechanism thereof, the primary object of my present invention being to provide improved mechanism of this type which will automatically start the phonograph motor when the pickup arm is moved from its rest position to playing position and which will automatically stop the motor when the pickup arm has reached a predetermined position at the end of the playing of a record.

More particularly, it is an object of my present invention to provide improved mechanism of this sort which is positive in action, simple in construction and operation, and highly eflicient in use.

Another object of my present invention is to provide an improved start-and-stop mechanism of the type set forth whiclmwill permit repeating any portion of the record without stopping the record before completion thereof and without the necessity of first returning the pickup arm to its rest position before next placing it upon the record.

A further object of my present invention is to provide an improved start-and-stop mechanism as aforesaid which, after having stopped the record at the completion of playing, will automatically start the phonograph motor again upon bringing the pickup over to starting position on the record without first having to-return the pickup to its rest position before placing it once more upon the record. 7

It is also an object of my present invention to provide an improved start-and-stop mechanism of the type set forth which will operate on standard records regardless of the type of terminal groove which they carry.

In accordance with this invention, I provide upon a. suitable mounting plate a switch in circuit with the driving motor of the phonograph, the switch being preferably of the type which tends constantly to close to complete the motor circuit. A pivotally mounted actuating lever on the mounting plate is so arranged as to be con.

stantly constrained toward a position to open the motor switch, the aforesaid lever being movable into the position thereof corresponding to the closed position of the switch by a cam member movable with the pickup arm and being latched in the latter position by a detent formed on a second plate pivotally carried by the mounting plate. The pivotally carried plate is preferably so arranged on the mounting plate as to tend tion with the switch-actuating lever, the parts tion with the switch-actuating lever under the influence of gravity.

Associated with the pickup arm is a tripping member having a pair of arms arranged to cooperate with the pivoted plate totilt the latter in order to move its detent out of latching relabeing so arranged that the pivoted plate is tilted for this purpose upon movement of the pickup arm in one direction clear of the record and into its rest position, or upon movement of the arm in the opposite direction at the end of playing of the record when the pickup arm has reached a predetermined radial position relative to the record. However, upon movement of the pickup arm from its rest position to the starting position on the record, the cam member associated therewith moves the switch-controlling lever to the position corresponding to the closed position of the switch, and the detent thereafter 7 holds the lever in this position during playing of the record and until the end of the record is reached. In between the beginning and end of the record, the pickup arm is free to be moved back and forth over the record to any desired position thereon, the parts being so disposed as constantly to bring the detent into latching relato be ineffective during this time to tilt the latch plate to release the switch-controlling lever.

The hovel features that I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularit-y in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of one embodiment thereof, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan view ofmy improved startand-stop mechanism with the parts shown in the positions which they occupy during playing of the record,

Figure 2 is a similar view but showing the parts in the positions occupied by them just after the switch has been opened at the end of playing of a record,

Figure 3 is a similar view but showing the various parts in the position they occupy when the switch has been closed either (a) upon bringing the pickup arm from its rest position to starting position of the record, or '(b) just after the pickup arm has been returned to starting position of the record from a position at the end of the record,

Figure 4 is a similar view showing the position of the parts after the switch has been opened tion to the opening and closing of the switch.

'Referring more particularly to the drawings,

wherein similar reference characters designate.

corresponding parts throughout, there is shown a motor board- I on which is supported a suitable electric motor 3 for driving a turntable adapted to support a record R in conventional manner. Fixed to the motor board I is a bushing 5 which pivotally carries the pivot post 6 of a pickup arm I for swinging movement over the record R, the pickup arm I carrying a suitable pickup device 9 adapted to cooperate with the record R.

Suitably secured to the lover end of the bushing 5 is a stationary mounting plate II on which is mounted a switch having a stationary blade l3 and a movable blade I5 provided with cooperating contact elements, the switch being preferably of the type tending constantly to close and being in circuit with and controlling the supply of current to the motor 3. The blade I5 is bent'into a substantially U-shape to permit locating between the blades I3 and I5"an insulated post" upstanding from a lever I9 pivotally mounted on the plate I I and carrying a downwardly extending pin 2|, the post Il passing through an opening 23 in the plate I9. When the post I! is in a position intermediate the blades I3 and I5, as in Figures land 3, the spring blade I5 is free to moveinto the closed position of the switch due to the inherent bias therein. ,On the other hand, if the lever I9 is moved counter-clockwise sufliciently, the post I] will engage the blade Hand openthe switch to stop the motor.

The mounting plate I -I is secured to the bushing 5 at'a point below the motor board I by means of a pair of clamping nuts 2!. Loosely mounted on a pair of downwardly extending pins 21 on the. plate -II is a second, substantially C-shaped plate 29 having a, pair of downwardly extending projections or lugs II and 33 and a forwardly extending detent arm 35. the free end of the detent arni being arranged to extend into the path of movement of the actuating lever I9. The pivoted plate-29 is'so arranged that its center of gravityflies on the oppositeside of the axis passing through the pins '21 from that on which the detent'arm 35 lies ,(that is, to the right of said axis, asviewedgin'Figures 5 *and '6) where- 'by,-.under-the influence of gravity, the plate 29 tends always to tilt in a clockwise direction, as viewed-in these figures, to assume the position 'shown'in Figure 5. Inthe position shown in the latter figure (corresponding to Figures 1 and 3), it will be noted that the end of the detent arm 35 is against the edge I9a of the lever I9,

thereby latching the lever I9 in the closed posi-.

tion of the switch against the, influence of a coil erate with the downwardly extending-pin 2| on the actuating lever I9. To the lower end of the collar or sleeve II is secured a tripping member 41 having a pair of actuating arms 49 and 5| adapted to cooperate, respectively, with the downwardly extending lugs 3I and 33 of the pivoted detent plate 29. When the cam tip 45 of the cam plate 43 engages the pin 2|, the cam moves the lever I9 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 1 to 4, to move the post I! away from the switch blade I5, thereby permitting the switch to close. As soon as the edge I9a of the lever I9 has cleared the free end of the detent or latch 35 the latch plate 29 becomes free to tilt, in response to gravity, to bring the free end of the detent 35 up against the edge I9a to thereby temporarily latch the lever'l9 in the closed position of the switch, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5. On'the other hand, when the pickup arm I is moved one way or the other to cause either the tripping arm 49 to engage the lug 3I or the tripping arm 5I to engage the lug 33, the latch plate 29 will be caused to pivot on an axis passing through its mounting pins 21 to the inclined position of Figure 6, thereby removing the end of the detent arm 35 from engagement with the lever I9. The spring 31 is then free to pull the lever I9 back for engagement of its post I I with the switch blade I5 to thereby open the switch.

Let it be assumed that the pickup arm I is in its rest position A to one side of the record R, as shown in Figure 7. .In this position, the tripping arm 5| is against the lug 33, as shown in Figure 4, the latch plate 29 is tilted, as shown in Figure 6, the post I! has opened the switch by engagement with the blade I5 thereof, and

the free end of the detent 35 is underneath theactuating lever I9, Upon moving the pickup ,arm 1 toward position B of Figure 7, which is the starting point on the record, the cam tip 45 engages the pin 2| just prior to the time that the pick-up 9 reaches the edge of the record to rotate the lever I9 sumciently ina clockwise direction to cause the ,post II thereof to recede from the switch blade I5, thereby efiecting closin of the switch. Since, in the meantime, the tripping arm 5I has receded from the lug 33, the latch plate 29 becomes free to swing on its pivot axis under the influence of gravity to cause the spring 31 which connects a" downwardly exfree end of the detent 35 to engage the lever I9, and, when the lever I9 has been moved to the po--' sition shown in Figure 3, the detent 35 is brought into engagement with the edge I9a of the lever I9 to latch the latter in the closed position of the switch. Thereafter, as the pickup arm moves across the record toward the position 0 (Fig.7) which is at the end of the record at a predetermined distance radially of the record, the switchremains closed. The parts are so constructed and arranged that, when the position C of the pickup arm is reached, the tripping arm 49 will engage the lug 3I on the latch plate 29 to again cause the latch plate to tilt and remove the detent 35 from latching engagement with the lever I9. The spring 31 thereupon once more becomes effective to pull the lever I9 back in a counter-clockwise direction until the post I! engages the blade I5 to open the switch. The

' switch now remains open as the pickup arm I is asoaiao first havingto return the pickup arm to its rest position A. However, if it is desired not to repeat the record, the movementof the pickup arm may be continued to the position A just prior to which the trip arm will have engaged the lug 33 to again tilt the latch plate 2t and once more effect opening of the switch. Obviously, since the condition of the switch is not altered in moving the pickup arm between the positions B and after first having been brought to posi tion B but before having reached position C, any preselected portions of the record may he re peated, as desired, without shutting ofr the motor.

From the foregoing description, it will be ap parent to those skilled in the art that I have provided a novel, quick-acting, start-and-stop mechanism for phonographs employing electric motors. Although I have shown and described but one embodiment of my invention, it will undoubtedly be apparent that many other modifications, as well as changes in the oneherein described, are possible. I, therefore, desire that my invention shall not be limited except insofar as is made necessary by-the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a phonograph employing an electric motor, the combination of a switch in circuit with said motor, a pickup arm arranged for movement over-a record adapted to be driven by said motor. means responsive to movement of said arm from a position over the record to a position clear of the record for effecting opening of said switch, means responsive to said arm when said arm is moved from a position clear of the record to starting position on the record for effecting closing of said switch, and means responsive to said arm when said arm has reached a predetermined position radially of said record for again record for actuating said switch controlling means,

to effect closing of said switch, means for thereafter temporarily locking said switch controllingmeans in a position wherein said latter means is inoperative to open said switch, means independent of said second named means responsive to said arm when said arm has reached a predetermined position radially of said record for rendering said locking means inoperative to further lock said switch controlling means, and means thereafter effective to again open said switch;

3. In a phonograph employing an electric motor, the combination of a switch in circuit with said motor, a pickup arm arranged for movement over a record adapted to be driven by said motor, switch controlling means for controlling opening and closing of said switch, means associated with said switch controlling means responsive to movement ofsaid arm from a position over the record to a position clear of the record for efiecting' opening 'of said switch, means also associated with said switch controlling means responsive to said arm when said arm is moved from a position clear of the record to starting position on the" record for actuating said switch controlling means to effect closing of said switch, means for thereafter temporarily locking said switch controlling means ina position wherein said latter means is inoperative to open said switch, means responsive to said arm when said arm has reached a predetermined position radially of said record for rendering said locking means inoperative to iurther lock said switch controiling means, and means thereafter effective to again open said switch.

4.111 a phonograph employing an electric m0- tor, the combination or a switch in circuit with said motor, a pickup arm arranged for movement over a record adapted to be driven by said motor, switch controlling means for controlling the opening and closing of said switch, means associated with said switch controlling means responsive to said arm when said arm is moved from a position clear of the record to starting position on the record for actuating said switch controlling means to effect closing of said switch, gravityresponsive means for thereafter temporarily locking said switch controlling means in a position wherein said latter means is inoperative to open said switch, means independent of said second named means responsive to said arm when said arm has reached a predetermined position radially. of said record for rendering said locking means inoperative to further lock said switch controlling means, and means thereafter effective to again open said switch.

5. In a phonograph employing an electric motor, the combination of a supporting plate, a switch in circuit with said motor and carried by said supporting plate, a pickup arm pivotally mounted in relation to said plate for swinging movement over a record adapted to be driven by said motor, a switch-actuating member movably mounted on said plate, means constraining said member toward a position to open said switch, means associated with said arm for moving said actuating member into position to efiect closing of said switch, and gravity-responsive means for temporarily latching said actuating member in said last-named position whereby to maintain said switch closed.

6. In a phonograph employing an electric motor, the combination of a supporting plate, a switch in circuit with said motor and carried by said supporting plate, a pickup arm pivotally mounted in relation to said plate for swinging movement over a record adapted to be driven by of latched relation with said actuating means when said pickup arm has reached at least one of said predetermined record points whereby to' render said switch actuating member free to open said switch under the influence of said constraining means. I

7. The invention set forth in claim 5 characterized in that said switch-actuating member'comprises a lever pivotally mounted on said supporting plate, and characterized further in that said means for moving said member comprises a cam device movable with said pickup arm, said cam device being arranged to move said lever from the position thereof corresponding to the open position of said switch to one corresponding to the closed position of said switch.

8. The invention set forth in claim 5 characterized in that said switch-actuating member comprises a lever pivotally mounted on said supporting plate, characterized further in that latching means comprises a second plate pivotally mounted on said first-named plate and having a detent thereon extending into the path of movement of said lever, the pivotal mounting of said second plate being on an axis such that the center of gravity thereof lies on the side of said axis opposite to that on which said detent lies whereby said latch plate tends constantly to tilt on said axis under the'influence of gravity in a direction to bring said detent into engagement with said lever, and characterized still further in that said means for moving said switch-actuating member comprises a cam device movable with said pickup arm, said cam device being arranged to move said lever in opposition to said constraining means from the position thereof corresponding to the open position of said switch to one corresponding to the closed position thereof, whereupon said latch plate is free to move on its axis under the influence of gravity to interpose said detent against said lever to thereby temporarily latch said lever in its last-named position.

. 9. The invention set forth in claim 5 characterized in that said switch-actuating member comprises a lever pivotally mounted on said supporting plate, characterized further in that latching -means comprises -a second plate pivotally mounted on said first-named plate and having a detent thereon extending into the path of movement of said lever, the pivotal mounting of said said. member toward a position to open said switch, means associated with said arm for moving said actuating member in opposition to said constraining means into position to effect closing of said switch, means for temporarily latching said actuating member in said last-named position whereby to maintain said switch closed,

and means independent ofsaid second named means controlled by said pickup arm for remov-,

said member toward a position to open said switch, means associated with. said arm for moving said actuating member in opposition to said constraining means into position to effect closing of said switch, means for temporarily latching second plate being on an axis such that the center of gravity thereof lies on the side of said axis opposite to that on which said detent lies whereby said latch plate tends constantly to tilt on said axis under the influence of gravityinadirectionto bring said detent into engagement with said lever, characterized further in that said means for moving said switch-actuating member comprises a ,cam device movable with said pickup arm, said cam device being arranged to move said lever in opposition to said constraining means from the position thereof corresponding to the open position of said switch to one corresponding to the closed position thereof, whereupon said latch plate is free to move on its axis under the influence of gravity to interpose said detent against said lever to thereby temporarily latch said lever in its last-namedposition, and characterized still further by the addition of cooperative means associated with said pickup arm and with said latch plate for removing said detent from latching relation with said lever when said pickup arm is in predetermined position relative to the "record whereby said constraining means is rendered effective to return said lever to its first-named position to thereby open sai switch.

10. In a phonograph employing anelectric motor, the combination of a supporting plate, a

switch in circuit with said motor and carried by said supporting plate, a pickup arm pivotally mounted in relation to said plate for swinging movement over a record adapted to be driven by said motor, a switch-actuating member movsaid actuating member in said last-named position whereby to maintain said switch closed, and means controlled by said pickup arm for removing said last-named means from latching relation with said actuating member whereby to render said constraining means effective to return said actuating member to its first-named position to thereby open said switch, said second-named means being so constructed and arranged as to. be efiective to move said actuating member upon movement of said pickup arm in either. direction at the beginning of the record.

12. In a phonograph employing an electric motor, the combination of a supporting plate, a switch in circuit with said motor and carried by said supporting plate, a pickup arm pivotally mounted in relation to said plate for swinging movement over a record adapted to be driven by said motor, a switch-actuating member movably mounted on said plate, means constraining said member toward a position to open said switch, means associated with said arm for moving said actuating member in opposition to said constraining means into position to effect closing of said switch, means for temporarily latch ing said actuating member in said last-named position whereby to maintain said switch closed,

and means controlled by said pickup arm for removing said last named means from latching relation with said actuating member whereby to render said constraining means effective to re- I turn said actuating member to its first-namedv position to thereby open said switch, said lastnamed means being so constructed and arranged as to be effective to remove said latching means from latching relation with said actuating member upon movement of said pickup arm in one direction relative to the record when said arm is in starting position over the record, and also upon movement of said pickup arm in the opposite direction when said arm is in another predetermined position radially of the record.

13; In a phonograph employing an electric motor, the combination of a supporting plate, a switch in circuit with said motor and carried by said upporting plate, a pickup arm pivotally mounted in relation to said plate for swing g ably mounted on said plate, means constraining movement over a record adapted to be driven by said motor, a switch-actuating member movably mounted on said plate, means constraining said member toward a position to open said switch, means associated with said arm for moving said actuating memberin opposition to said constraining means into position to effect closing of said switch, means for temporarily latching said actuating member in said last-named position whereby to maintain said switch closed,

and means controlled by said pickup arm for re-,

moving said last named means from latching relation with said actuating member whereby to render said constraining means effective to reof said arm toward the center of the record when a said arm has reached another predetermined position radially of the record.

EMILE C. GUEDON. 

